American victim of Kim Jong Un, Otto Warmbier, honored by N. Korean defectors

The 22-year-old University of Virginia college student was falsely arrested, imprisoned, and tortured in 2016 for propaganda purposes because he was an American. He was sent home the following year severely brain-damaged, unable to speak or hear, and died a few days later in a Cincinnati hospital. Otto’s death was a reminder of the human rights violations that North Koreans face every day.

Their willingness to fight for justice for Otto and against the Kim Jong UN regime adds to the awareness of the reality of North Korea and the cruelty of the dictatorship, which is a big support for the whole North Korean people who are still suffering in the 21st century under this brutal dictatorship.

The North Korean Freedom Coalition (NKFC), part of the group of defectors, remembered Otto and honored him at the office building that houses Kim Jong UN’s diplomats just a couple of blocks from the UN.

We believe that renaming the corner of 44th St and 2nd Ave as Otto Warmbier Way would be a fitting tribute to a young man who suffered greatly at the hands of a brutal regime. If you agree, please sign our petition to the New York City Council:https://t.co/8TlO9k6Dg5

— North Korea Freedom Coalition (@NKFC) March 18, 2023

Suzanne Scholte, the chair of the NKFC and president of the Defense Forum Foundation from Washington D.C., spoke about the event. She said that there are hundreds of North Korean children, women and men detained in China who are trying to get to South Korea. They brought some escapees from North Korea, women who had suffered brutally in detention centers in China and political prison camps in North Korea, to Washington to make a plea for these families.

North Korean women have a heartfelt connection to Cindy Warmbier, Otto’s mother. They understand what Otto went through because they were tortured as he was. If those family members in detention in China get sent back to North Korea, they will suffer the same fate as Otto Warmbier.

New York City, Otto’s parents and the group of defectors also campaigned for the renaming of the block where the North Korean Mission is located to “Otto Warmbier Way” to honor Otto and other victims of human rights violations. However, a local city councilman seems to be against the proposal.

The Biden administration should speak out against Kim’s humanitarian violations and help protect the women who are still there. Scholte reported they had a wonderful meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Greenfield, who was deeply moved by the testimonies of the North Korean witnesses. The most important thing they need to do is pressure China not to force these people back to North Korea but to allow them safe passage to South Korea. This is critical because these are women, children, and men who were trying to get to their family members, and it is about reuniting families.

Scholte urged the international community to pressure Xi Jinping to allow these people safe passage to South Korea. The U.S. Department of State is engaging on this issue, and they totally support the efforts of the NKFC. However, more pressure needs to be put on China to ensure the safety and protection of these people.